Organic Gardening Basics

Organic gardening refers to using natural products in all aspects of farming, as opposed to the synthetic ones that are readily available in the market. Organic gardening techniques were used during ancient times and they are attributed to better environment management and health. The current generation is grappling with the global warming catastrophe, which has led to climate change. Issues of environment conservation have taken precedent in most countries, making people to turn into organic farming. The primary purpose of organic gardening is that most families still want to produce food for their consumption, but at the same ensure the environment is healthy and safe. Furthermore, food grown using other conventional methods is attributed to the rising of lifestyle diseases and cancers.

As more people learn about the detrimental effects of pesticides, herbicides, as well as synthetic fertilizers, they become willing to grow foods organically. However, most people do not have adequate information on how they can undertake organic farming in their gardens. Below are some basic tips that will steer you in the right direction if you intend to start organic gardening.

1. Using organic matter

Organic matter refers to a broad range of decaying animal waste and plants. This is inclusive of things, such as kitchen scraps, plants, grass clippings, compost and manures. When it comes to organic gardening, you mainly avoid using conventional fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil. Organic matter is very important in conditioning the soil after it is worked and mixed thoroughly. One of the outstanding tenets about organic gardening is that when you feed the soil, it will definitely support optimum growth of crops. This applies for any type of soil, despite its natural characteristics. Therefore, using organic matter improves the pH of the soil and increases productivity.

2. Pest control

Most people presume that because organic gardening discourages the use of chemicals to control pests, it simply means that you share your food with animals and worms. However, this is far from the truth, considering that organic gardening aims at increasing productivity and yields using natural methods. If you notice any pest in the garden, the first step is to inspect it thoroughly and determine whether they warrant any action. Organic gardening emphasizes cooperating with nature, which means accepting an occasional pest that is not causing extensive destruction to the crops. Large animals and insects contribute towards balancing the gardening by preying on pests. For example, lizards or snakes in the garden feast on aphids, rats and worms, reducing the population of pests in the garden. However, there are many organic pesticides in the market that can be used in dealing with adverse pest infestation. Additionally, you can also use barriers to prevent smaller animals, such as rats from accessing the garden.

3. Intercropping and mulching

Organic gardening encourages intercropping, whereby you grow a variety of crops at the same time. The main aim of this practice is to protect you from losing an entire crop to a pest infestation. Furthermore, various crops attract a variety of pests, some of which can be beneficial to another plant. Mulching is also encouraged in organic gardening as it serves various purposes, such as suppressing weeds, conserving moisture, feeding the soil, moderating soil temperature and preventing soil erosion.